Customer Reviews

Ultimate Iron Man - Volume 1

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm a big fan of Marvel's Ultimate line, and Iron Man is one of my all-time favorite characters, so when I heard about the Ultimate Iron Man limited series I was more than a little excited. After seeing how well Tony Stark's character was handled in the Ultimates, I was looking forward to seeing him in the spotlight here.

Marvel pulled off quite the coup in getting bestselling sci-fi author Orson Scott Card to write this series. Unfortunately it doesn't really pay off. I'm not familiar with Card's previous work, but he seems ill-suited to this particular task. I'll try not to give too much away here, but some of the plot points are just not right for Iron Man. Everyone can accept Tony Stark the boy genius. But Tony Stark the blue-skinned science mutant with weird powers? That is not what Iron Man is all about. A big part of Iron Man's appeal is that he had no superpowers. He used his intellect to create the Iron Man armor and hold his own among gods, mutants, and other super-heroes.

The story had some good points. The Stark/Stane corporate rivalry was handled well, and the secret government school for science prodigies (the same one from Ultimate Fantastic Four I assume) was a good setting for the young Tony Stark. I just wish it was explored a bit more.
The dialogue between characters is awkward, and the supporting cast never seems to gel, especially compared to the other Ultimate books.

I'm sure Card is a good writer, but I think his talents would have been better utilized elsewhere (perhaps in the regular Marvel Universe). There is a certain standard in the Ultimate line established by writers like Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar, and Warren Ellis, and Orson Scott Card just doesn't live up to that standard.

Andy Kubert's artwork is as always, quite good, and in this case is the book's only saving grace. It would have been nice if he had managed to finish the entire series, but Mark Bagley does a decent job on the book's closing chapter.

I suppose I was going to be disappointed with an Ultimate Marvel book eventually, I just wish it wasn't Ultimate Iron Man.

Ultimate Iron Man I and II are not 1610 (Ultimate) Anthony Stark's definitive origin story. It was revealed in Ultimate Comics: Ultimate Avengers vs New Ultimates that these two miniseries depict a comic version of a Japanese anime about Tony's early life. This isn't the true origin story of Iron Man.
Ultimate Iron Man I is a five issue miniseries written by Orson Scott Card with art by Andy Kubert. There is a heavy focus on sci-fi elements from Card, which gives this book less of a Marvel "feel." Which isn't exactly a bad thing. Card weaves together a fantastic and intelligent origin story. It's a shame that all his hard work was retconned to be nothing more than a fantastical tale. Kubert's art is excellent. Attention to body language, settings, and background are astonishing. The miniseries starts out by revealing the accident that gave Tony Stark such a genius mind. It should be noted that the first two issues focus heavily on Howard Stark, Tony's father. Ultimate Iron Man I includes extreme sci-fi and political elements. Such as Tony's physiology being altered in his mother's womb or Zebediah Stane making a play to wrest control of Stark's company from him. Readers not familiar with these types of subplots might be turned off by this. I personally loved it and felt it added a unique depth to Tony that I honestly didn't expect from this miniseries. We'll see Ultimate versions of Obidiah Stane and Jim Rhodes introduced and the final issue ends in a cliffhanger that leads into the sequel miniseries.

The Ultimate Universe has resulted in some truly unique treasures, jewels in the glittering crown of Marvel Comics, but sadly this is not one of them.

For both the casual and dedicated fan, I recommend Iron Man: Extremis by Warren Ellis instead of this book. It is without question the book this should have been -- and in continuity to boot!

While I don't want to say that Ultimate Iron Man *ruins* or conflicts with anything essential in the Iron Man character, I will say that this ought to have been the third or fourth trade in the Ultimate Iron Man series.

Why? because it asks us to devote an extraordinary amount of time and effort to a story whose conclusion we already know without adding anything substantive -- at least nothing substantive that couldn't have been handled in Lost-style flashbacks to greater effect.

In an Ultimate Universe that I prize for its forward-looking stance on its characters, this book mires itself in the past and cannot seem to escape a story that, honestly, didnt really even need to be told.

Again, for your Iron Man fix, check out Extremis. Great dialogue, solid story, amazing art.

- r

Orson Scott Card to SciFiScanner on this book:

"I really hate superhero comics. Then Marvel comes to me with this character, and when they told me what it was I said, "Wow, that is even dumber than most superhero comics." This guy is the head of a multi-million dollar international corporation -- that's a full-time job. He is also a scientist-inventor-engineer -- that's a full-time job. And he wears a suit and goes out and save people? But then I found out I could give him a childhood -- that's what I do. So that worked for me. I literally can't write a story I don't believe in. I sit there staring at the screen and nothing happens. I have to wait until I believe in it."

This isn't Iron Man. The character is unrecognizable and this is a badly written story by a notable author who just wanted to make sure the check cleared without too much fuss. Ultimate Iron Man has achieved a legendary status as the worst Ultimate Marvel series ever (keyword: nanomonkeys), and the beginning of a "dark age" that ushered in lower standards of quality throughout the entire Ultimate Universe line. With this volume, you too can see just why it this series is so reviled and why Card's competence as an author was called into question by people unfamiliar with his body of work. Even diehard OSC fans will be horribly disappointed.

If you want to read up on Ultimate Iron Man, you're better served by checking out "Ultimates 1," "Ultimates 2," and "Ultimate Human." This one's not worth the minutes of your life that could best be spent watching paint dry.

As a huge OSC and Iron Man fan, I was expecting great things from this book. Unfortunately, I found this to be one of the worst stories I have ever read, and it is all because of one fact. Iron Man has super powers in this book!!!

Some comic characters can have new powers along there comic careers. Wolverine can have a new animal trait or Superman can do something else (maybe fly so fast he travels through time) and I wouldn't think anything of it. But some characters are human and need to remain human. The two characters I am thinking of are Batman and Iron Man. Their strength is their mind. They show humanity that you do not have to be superhuman to accomplish great things. Instead, they show you that hard work and the ability to study and learn are the keys to greatness.

In this book, OSC decided to give Tony Stark a Wolverine like healing power. The rest of the story really doesn't matter. Its worthless.

I bought both books at the Wizard Con in NOLA for $15 and I feel robbed.

On a better note, Wizard Con NOLA is fantastic and you should spend your money coming to that instead of wasting it on this book.

This TPB (also available in hardcover), collecting the entire five-issue run of the first Ultimate Iron Man volume, has come under quite a bit of fire. However, I applaud the unique take that Orson Scott card took on this iconic Marvel character. The Ultimate Universe is all about recreating the world of Marvel for contemporary readers, many of whom are completely new to comics in general. As such, it provides a wonderful opportunity for the writers who are fortunate enough to work on these projects to try something new (the Bendis origin for Venom- lab project gone awry, rather than extraterrestrial- is a perfect example). Card was tasked with adding a whole new take on the Iron Man canon, making the story unique and accessible for new readers all the while. Not a particularly easy assignment, but my personal verdict is that he succeeded.

There are three reasons in particular why I feel this book is valuable not only to the Iron Man character, but the entire Ultimate Universe. It masterfully explains the root causes for 1) Stark's genius, and why he displays almost inhuman levels of productivity and innovation, 2) why he is obsessed with constantly building and improving armor, and 3) his affinity for the consumption of alcohol. I will not reveal any specifics or spoilers here, but for those of you who have read the book (or plan on reading it), pay close attention to those three points, and ask yourself if Card did not do an excellent job of giving credence to Stark's character. For instance, after reading this volume, it seems that Stark's drinking is not a way for him to escape the burdens of reality (which would make no sense for a man so driven by the need to constantly build his empire and legacy), but is in actuality a means of enhancing his productivity. This may sound like an implausible theory to those who have not yet read the story, but once you learn of Stark's origin in the Ultimate Universe, and his unique genetic makeup, it all comes together (it also explains how he can drink so much without suffering any permanent damage).

The Ultimate Universe is all about new ideas for old characters. It runs parallel (exists outside of) the original Marvel Universe, and so a new take on a character like Iron Man should not offend any of the die-hard fans. For those of us who do not have the benefit of having been around the past 40+ years to absorb all the background of Marvel, this is like being a kid again, and witnessing the birth of legends.

Had been looking for this one for a couple of years. Not only was it in impeccable shape, the price was outstanding! My book showed up in, like, 2 days after ordering. Artwork is outstanding, plot is complex and full of detail. I will be buying from this seller again and again!

At First Glance:
When I first saw that Marvel had started Ultimate Iron Man i was ecstatic. Not only am i a big fan of Iron Man, But the Ultimate universe as well, and I eagerly awaited the paperback; my wait was not in vain.

New Take on Stark:
When I first started reading the new Ultimate Iron Man, written by Sci-Fi legend Orson Scott Card, I was surprised my the new spin he took. Tony Stark, due to an accident that occurred while he was still in his mothers womb, has brain cells that are developed through his whole body. This causes him to be in constant pain, which becomes the reason for him becoming an alcoholic. It also leaves him with the ability to regrow limbs that he loses (based on the properties of the chemical his mother got infected with while pregnant).

Brief Plot:
The story follows both Tony Stark's growth from a mere toddler into the adult he will become, and the creation of his Iconic Iron Man suit from its meager beginnings. I know to some this may sound lame, or a horrible take on a classic character, but believe me it is not. I honestly believe i do not have the ability to convey the greatness of Ultimate Iron Man Vol. 1.

Is Ultimate Iron Man 1 for Me:
If you are dying to know the back story of "The Ultimates" Tony Stark, Love Iron Man, or just looking for a good read while you wait for your next issues of whatever comic you read, this is defiantly worth getting.